One of the basic ways for making the HOTLOGIC® so easy to use is to have frozen food ready to take out and pop into the HOTLOGIC®. You can use store bought frozen goods or prepare them at home. Frozen foods have the added benefit of being able to pack in a cooler and stay at food safe temperatures for a day or two when traveling.
Store Bought
The freezer section at the store is full of possibilities ranging from ingredients to fully prepared meals. You will want to avoid any frozen raw wheat product such as pot pies or dinner roll dough, as the HOTLOGIC® does not get hot enough to bake wheat flour. Also, French fries will not bake. Here are some of the frozen items available at stores that work in a HOTLOGIC®.
- Frozen meals
- Lasagna
- Hot Pockets
- Burritos
- Taquitos
- Samosas
- Frozen vegetables – broccoli, cauliflower, cauliflower rice, carrots, onions, bell peppers, and green beans
Home Prepared
At home you can prepare your own frozen meals or dishes or ingredients. When you make a meal, one serving can be portioned and frozen for later use. What I find that really works for me is to prepare uncooked meats and vegetables. Then they are ready to grab and pop into the HOTLOGIC®.
- Precooked spiral-cut ham with glaze– Honestly, I just toss the glaze. Next, I cut the ham and lay the slices on trays to freeze. Once frozen, I store it in 1-gallon freezer bags and go through the ham over time. I use it in soups, hot sandwiches, and meat for dinners.
- Ground meat – I prepare the meat and then form patties before laying them on trays to freeze. I store them in an airtight container in the freezer. Then in the mornings I need only grab a patty to put in a container and pop into the HOTLOGIC® to cook for lunch or dinner.
- Pork roast – I slice the pork roast into single serving portions and lay the slices on trays to freeze. I store them in an airtight container in the freezer. To cook in the HOTLOGIC® I drizzle olive oil on the bottom of the container and sprinkle with salt, oregano, rosemary and thyme. After placing the roast in the container, I repeat with the oil and spices on top.
- Vegetables – I cheat and skip the parboil step for the veggies I freeze. I have not noticed that it is necessary for these particular veggies. The vegetables are washed and peeled when required. After cutting them up, I put them straight into a freezer bag. When they go into the freezer slightly wet, I do end up banging the bag on the counter to loosen the pieces. I always have these vegetables in my freezer: diced carrots, sliced celery, chopped or sliced onions, chopped cabbage, and sometimes chopped bell peppers.
Ready to Go
In the morning when my schedule is tight, I like being able to reach into the freezer and grab my next meal to heat in my HOTLOGIC®. These are just some of the ways I stock my freezer to be able to do this.
